10 Returning to the Child’s Garden
know in our hearts: that children truly benefit from simply enjoy-
ing quality time outdoors every day. In a study of children aged
five to eighteen, researchers from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign demonstrated that attention deficit hyperac-
tivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are significantly reduced when
the children spend quality time outdoors enjoying nature (Hogan
2004). (I took note that the study referred to quality time outdoors:
it didn’t discuss texting, playing handheld video games, or fidget-
ing with other electronic gadgets while in nature.)
Most important, I believe, is that many people are beginning
to see the need to do research about children and nature. More
and more researchers want to prove with scientifically defensible
data that children can be helped in many ways simply by going
outside. These scientific studies will undoubtedly confirm what we
nature enthusiasts already know about the effects of nature and
its miraculous antidotes. Giving children doses of time on green
grass, in fresh air—all the life and energy nature has to offer the
mind—is wonderful.
Times change and gadgets upgrade, but nature is always there.
Nature is always changing, too, which is part of its beauty and
another reason we can learn so much from it. With this aim and
more, you’ll find the next four chapters—Autumn, Winter, Spring,
and Summer Nature Studies—chock-full of ideas and activities.
Use as many of these as you wish—or all of them—to integrate
nature’s wonder into your lessons. Create a child’s garden in your
very own classroom!
References
Herr, Norman. 2010. “Television and Health.” Internet Resources
to Accompany The Sourcesbook for Teaching Science. www.csun.edu/
science/health/docs/tv&health.html#tv_stats.
———. 2010. “Television and Health.” Internet Resources to
Accompany The Sourcesbook for Teaching Science. Dr. John Nelson
quote found at www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health
.html#influence.
———. 2010. “Television and Health.” Internet Resources to
Accompany The Sourcesbook for Teaching Science. American Psychi-
atric Association quote found at www.csun.edu/science/health/
docs/tv&health.html#influence.
Hogan, Dan. 2004. “Children with ADHD Benefit from Time
Outdoors Enjoying Nature.” www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/
08/040830082535.htm.
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